Chapter 1262: The Struggle for the Ancient Scroll

Boom! As Xiao Yan’s shout fell, a purple-brown flame surged out of his body. Stomping on the ground, the hard floor instantly crumbled into powder. His figure resembled a massive fire dragon, rushing towards the crowd surrounding the crimson scroll in the most tyrannical manner. The sudden intervention of Xiao Yan drew everyone’s attention; many faces grew slightly pale, their eyes flashing with coldness. They waved their sleeves, and fierce Dou Qi lashed out, whizzing towards Xiao Yan with a breaking wind sound. With the strength of these individuals, they normally wouldn’t dare to attack Xiao Yan, but now everyone was driven mad by the allure of the Heavenly Tier Fighting Technique. No one cared about the other party’s identity or power, so they launched their attacks without hesitation.

Boom! Facing the ferocious Dou Qi attacks, Xiao Yan let out a cold snort, snapping his fingers. Five purple-brown fiery pillars shot out from his body and collided with the attacks, crushing them almost effortlessly. The remaining fiery pillars then exploded on those who had attacked, transforming them into flaming infernos in an instant. The ruthless move by Xiao Yan made some of the stronger fighters hesitate, as they began to regain a touch of clarity. Biting their teeth, they decided to hold back their intended attacks. Taking advantage of this brief intimidation, the fire dragon that Xiao Yan transformed into barged into the crowd. In a flash, he lunged towards the crimson scroll. Xiao Yan’s action made the only Dou Zun among the circle scowl. He had been chasing after the scroll, and, being the strongest here, had the highest chance of success. However, Xiao Yan’s interference aroused a strong killing intent in him. His eyes flickered, and he clenched his hand, a massive mountain axe appearing in it. “Hah!” A deep growl came from the mouth of this man, also a First Star Dou Zun. Yellowish Dou Qi surged out of his body, while his muscles rippled with strange movements, rapidly gathering a terrifying force. “Get out of my way!” With a grim expression, the Dou Zun flashed over Xiao Yan and swung his immense axe, splitting the air and slamming fiercely down on Xiao Yan.

“Out of the way? You think you have the right?” The overpowering force naturally caught Xiao Yan’s attention. A cold smile curled on his face. Clutching his Black Heavy Ruler, the purple-brown flame swirled out, transforming into a coiling fiery dragon. “Get lost!” Roaring, Xiao Yan slashed the ruler with blazing power, colliding brutally with the axe of the First Star Dou Zun.

Clang! The ruler and axe clashed, producing a metallic boom. A powerful shockwave swept out, causing nearby fighters to fly back.

“Gurk!” The formidable collision altered the expression of the First Star Dou Zun. He spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning pale with shock. Xiao Yan’s strength was nearly on par with his, and though he specialized in brute force, he surprisingly couldn’t gain any advantage. Blood spewed, and the Dou Zun’s qi waned. Realizing he had no chance to continue vying for the scroll, he bit his teeth in resignation and quickly withdrew. In such chaos, injury could invite opportunists. He had already witnessed several high-ranking Dou Zun, who were usually untouchable, retreating in disgrace due to gang attacks. After shaking off the First Star Dou Zun, Xiao Yan reclaimed the Black Heavy Ruler into his storage ring. Flexing his hand with a faint numbness, he marveled at the opponent’s sheer strength. Having consumed many heavenly treasures over the years, his physical power was exceptionally robust. Though not comparable to Zi Yan, finding someone of similar strength in his level would be difficult. Shaking off this obstacle, Xiao Yan’s gaze fixed on the crimson scroll. Despite numerous fighters, the scroll deftly dodged, eluding everyone. Some even suffered severe injuries in pursuit. Fueled, Xiao Yan stomped and transformed into the purple-brown fire dragon again, bulldozing anyone in his way. In mere moments, he neared the scroll. “You are courting death, boy!” Seeing Xiao Yan breach the scroll’s two-zhang radius, the blood-eyed fighters roared, unleashing waves of majestic Dou Qi that besieged Xiao Yan. The sight of close to a hundred attackers struck a hint of unease in Xiao Yan. Undeterred, he stepped forward, stretching for the scroll. The surging Dou Qi arrived instantly, but just as the attacks were to land, Tian Huo Reverend, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and others formed a barrier of solid energy. Bam, bam, bam! The endless waves of Dou Qi battered the shield, creating ripples, but the shield held. With their combined might, they thwarted the barrage, and Xiao Yan finally grabbed the scroll. Swoosh! Before he could clench it, the scroll darted away like a slippery fish, eluding his grasp. “Hmpf!” Coldly, Xiao Yan arched his hand, forming a space prison around the scroll. “Come here!” With a roar, the scroll tugged into the recess, zipping directly into Xiao Yan’s palm. Another movement, and half the scroll was seized. Just as he exerted more force, a shriveled hand gripped the other end. “Heh, thinking to hog the treasure, rather naive.” The taunting voice belonged to the Sect Leader of the Dark Profound Sect, Chen Tiannan. Eyeing Xiao Yan, Tiannan laughed coldly and punched ruthlessly at Xiao Yan’s head, clearly intending to crush his skull. “Asking for death!” Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed dangerously. A golden figure appeared, blocking Tiannan’s punch with a sharp crack. “A puppet?” Shocked by the demonic golden figure, Tiannan retracted his fist. The puppet, however, counterattacked fiercely, forcing Tiannan to release the scroll and retreat. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yan clutched the scroll, flames erupting to suppress its struggles. After its futile resistance, the scroll finally submitted. Relieved, Xiao Yan stowed the scroll, radiating a vast aura. The purple-brown flame enveloped him, subduing the blood-eyed fighters. Glancing at the Tian Huo Reverend and others, they reluctantly turned away, seeking other scrolls. Xiao Yan’s features softened, albeit slightly. Alone, he could handle these fighters, but a mob would be troublesome. “Old scum, since you’ve shown your hand, don’t think of walking away!” Pocketing the scroll, Xiao Yan’s expression hardened, his murderous gaze locking onto Chen Tiannan.